British Muslim Pilot Forced to Leave Plane

A British Muslim airline pilot flying out of Manchester as a passenger said he was "demoralized" when he was forced to leave the plane.

Amar Ashraf, who was born in Britain, said he believes he was forced off the Continental Airlines flight, which was headed for Newark, N.J., Monday because he has a "Muslim-sounding name," The Independent reported Tuesday.

"I got out of my seat and noticed the aircraft door was open and the stairs had been moved back to the door. The stewardess told me there were no standby employees allowed to fly that day, but I was sure there were other standby passengers on board the plane. I was demoralized and I had to walk down the stairs, which was really humiliating," he said.

Ashraf said he was interrogated by two armed police officers who asked if he knew why the U.S. government ordered him off the flight.

The pilot, who works for one of Continental's partner airlines, said he plans to file a formal complaint with Continental.

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